Today is March 23rd and here in the Chicago area we have gotten at least 5 inches of snow. That is a case of bait and switch if I ever heard of one. Spring? What spring?!?
Rather than wallow in the slush, I got to thinking about books that gave me the bait and switch. What do I mean by that? Well, a book that on paper, or in the review should have been a perfect read for me, but in reality, when I actually read it, I did not enjoy it.
I went back and looked at some of the high profile, well reviewed books that I was surprised not to enjoy. Click through to read the reviews where I do write about why the book was ultimately unsuccessful for me as a reader, but I have to say, I have given these books out to many a satisfied patron over the years. There truly is a book for every reader, and for every a reader, a book.
Red Moon by Benjamin Percy
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The City and the City by China Mieville
For today's Monday Discussion, share your bait and switch books.
For past Monday Discussions, click here.
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3 comments:
My bait and switch:
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
I had a friend who told me Salman Rushdie could do no wrong. So I picked one of his books that should have been right up my alley. Instead it took me months and months to fight my way through it.
"Why We Broke Up by" Daniel Handler -- it had all the makings of what should have been a 5 star book for me (romance, angst, illustrations, Daniel Handler), but it just fell a little flat for me. I was never able to identify with the protagonist and if anything, I found her annoying. I was definitely not the targeted audience for this book.
"The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater -- Oh Maggie, how I love you but not this book. It just dragged on and on with all the unnecessary descriptions, and did not go anywhere for the longest time. I loved the premise and saw its potential, but I grew bored of it fast.
The Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. The main character is a part-Fae private investigator, and that's highly reminiscent of Seanan McGuire's October Daye series, which I LOVE! The Merry Gentry series also has a lot of sex. Dark Faeries + sex should = WIN, but I couldn't get through the first book. I think it was how Merry's sexuality was treated.
I have also grown to realize that I despise Charlaine Harris. Again, vampires + sex should = WIN, but Sookie Stackhouse makes me want to stab out her eyes with a steak knife. Seriously, there is nothing worse than a "Mary Sue" heroine. I want my heroines strong and opinionated and deeply flawed, just like real people. These two women played up the "madonna/whore" (innately sexualized, yet somehow very innocent, as well) complex for me to really enjoy reading about them.
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